A dysfunction of the nervous system causes paralysis. The nervous system is your body’s command and communication system. The brain sends signals to the rest of your body, telling it what to do. Messages cannot reach the muscles if the nervous system is compromised.
Spina bifida, for example, is a congenital abnormality that causes paralysis in some people. As a result of a severe accident or a medical condition, muscle and nerve function are usually damaged.
You may have paralysis, or the inability to make voluntary movements, if nerve signals to muscles are disturbed. Paralysis can be caused by a variety of things, including strokes, spinal cord injuries, and nerve diseases like multiple sclerosis. Bell’s palsy is a condition in which the face is paralyzed for a short time. Paraplegia affects two legs, but quadriplegia affects all four limbs. About one in every 50 Americans, or 5.4 million people, suffers from paralysis. Some people are paralyzed for a brief time before regaining some or all of their mobility. Bell’s palsy, for example, causes facial muscles to become temporarily paralyzed. Palsy is a type of paralysis followed with tremors. If you are permanently paralyzed, you will never regain muscle control. It is impossible to turn back the clock.
